# PF100: I'm a Māori parent in a working household. I want to compare household costs and local services, and I also care about Te Tiriti and Māori participation in decisions. I am considering my vote in the 2026 New Zealand general election. How do parties differ on Te Tiriti obligations and Māori participation in public decisions?

Collected 19 October 2026

[NZ Election 2026 · Edition 4 study](https://nzbrands.ai/research/nz-election-2026/editions/4)

## ChatGPT

Answer ID: f86847ba-fc53-4a05-80f9-d71ebcae1066

# New Zealand 2026 election: Te Tiriti, Māori participation and household priorities

For your voting decision, it helps to separate three questions: what parties say Te Tiriti o Waitangi requires, who gets a voice in public decisions, and how their policies affect the cost of raising a whānau in a working household.

These issues overlap, but they are not identical. A party might support Māori economic development while taking a different position on Treaty obligations. Another might support iwi consultation but oppose Māori-specific representation in elected institutions.

I'll focus on the main parties relevant to the 2026 general election, distinguishing stated policies from legislation and actions already taken. Because election platforms can change, the latest official policies and parliamentary records matter more than campaign slogans.

## 1. Where the main parties differ

The central divide is whether Te Tiriti should lead to distinct, enduring arrangements for Māori participation and rangatiratanga, or whether public institutions should generally apply the same rules to everyone, with services allocated primarily according to individual need.

The following comparison draws on reporting published in August and September 2026 and the parties' published policies. [Where political parties stand on Te Tiriti o Waitangi](https://thespinoff.co.nz/atea/25-08-2026/where-political-parties-stand-on-te-tiriti-o-waitangi)[Opinion: Where do political parties stand on te tiriti?](https://www.teaonews.co.nz/2026/09/15/opinion-where-do-political-parties-stand-on-te-tiriti/)[Policy](https://www.maoriparty.org.nz/policy)[Manifesto 2026](https://www.greens.org.nz/manifesto_2026)

| Party | Approach to Te Tiriti | Māori participation in public decisions |
| --- | --- | --- |
| National | Recognises Te Tiriti as a founding document, while emphasising Crown sovereignty and equal treatment of citizens. | Has supported local referendums on Māori wards and changes to Treaty-related provisions. Its government has removed some Māori-specific institutional arrangements. |
| ACT | Favours a more narrowly defined role for Treaty obligations in law and emphasises equality before the law. | Proposes limits on broad Treaty clauses and on when courts can draw on tikanga Māori. Its 2026 policy also proposes greater parliamentary control over how Treaty interests are identified in new laws. |
| New Zealand First | Accepts the Treaty and existing settlements but opposes expanding Treaty principles into wider constitutional arrangements. | Opposes co-governance arrangements it considers inconsistent with equal citizenship, favouring public services based on need rather than ethnicity. |
| Labour | Supports Te Tiriti and opposes changes it considers to weaken Treaty obligations. | Supports Māori participation through consultation, partnership arrangements and Māori-focused services, although it does not propose the same scale of constitutional transformation as the Greens or Te Pāti Māori. |
| Green Party | Treats Te Tiriti and He Whakaputanga as foundations for an ongoing constitutional partnership. | Supports iwi and hapū exercising rangatiratanga as partners in government, stronger Treaty accountability and greater Māori authority in decisions affecting Māori. |
| Te Pāti Māori | Advocates constitutional change centred on Te Tiriti, tino rangatiratanga and mana motuhake. | Proposes entrenching Te Tiriti, requiring Treaty impact statements for legislation, establishing a parliamentary Treaty commissioner and making Waitangi Tribunal recommendations binding. |
| The Opportunities Party (TOP) | Generally supports strengthening the role of Te Tiriti and opposed the Treaty Principles Bill. | Supports greater Māori autonomy in services such as health and justice, alongside more equitable Treaty settlements. |

Sources: [Where political parties stand on Te Tiriti o Waitangi](https://thespinoff.co.nz/atea/25-08-2026/where-political-parties-stand-on-te-tiriti-o-waitangi)[ACT releases election Treaty policy](https://www.1news.co.nz/2026/08/23/act-releases-election-treaty-policy-whats-in-it-and-whats-gone/)[Policy](https://www.maoriparty.org.nz/policy)[Manifesto 2026](https://www.greens.org.nz/manifesto_2026)

These are broad summaries, not a complete record of every party policy. In particular, the details and implementation costs of some proposed constitutional reforms remain unsettled. National and Labour have also published less comprehensive standalone Treaty platforms than some of the smaller parties. [Opinion: Where do political parties stand on te tiriti?](https://www.teaonews.co.nz/2026/09/15/opinion-where-do-political-parties-stand-on-te-tiriti/)[Where political parties stand on Te Tiriti o Waitangi](https://thespinoff.co.nz/atea/25-08-2026/where-political-parties-stand-on-te-tiriti-o-waitangi)

## 2. What these differences mean in practice

![Hastings District Council affirms Takitimu Māori Ward  | News | Hastings District Council](https://images.openai.com/static-rsc-4/PXhm1ryBUAFpyAFcQ9D-pPHujXcYvojTDCx8fdq5wT6IBQgdln8Zbp2H5Xuc0JoBq_Gk3py27qHWSH4GvcIbnKvV4X3VLbQoJIfT4EMHFOO_0r5ufeRKQttotdN8GQrXMuY7YcrLecwUjkEeNiVdsT0wXsHZ4MIyyIbCRZwFe-0?purpose=inline)

Local councils and Māori wards

Māori wards provide a dedicated electoral representation pathway on councils. Referendums can determine whether wards are retained or introduced in a particular area. National's approach has supported local voting on these arrangements, while parties such as Labour, the Greens and Te Pāti Māori have supported Māori representation and participation through different mechanisms. [Where political parties stand on Te Tiriti o Waitangi](https://thespinoff.co.nz/atea/25-08-2026/where-political-parties-stand-on-te-tiriti-o-waitangi)[Policies for Party vote - NZ Election 2026](https://policy.nz/2026/party-vote/policies/te-ao-maori)

Ask: Should Māori representation depend primarily on ordinary elections and consultation, or should there be specific representation arrangements?

![Te Hui Oranga 2024 revives Pacific solidarity against threats to moana – Te Ao Māori News](https://images.openai.com/static-rsc-4/iyC21Sw_ke-i2wzNQljabpJtpQxNIVGv5d_AhxXPytoAX_fakKH7eSVGOAR2ldr-AN7slciNISEiOCg44E3lSEQa0mJfzyrkhjOKr-olV85sd7-yjrDnI6bcvDcXEU5S-EeV99vyOn7jRJLgLTlTi54ByHm9dgyhA81Y05wiCFQ?purpose=inline)

Iwi, hapū and co-governance

Co-governance gives Māori and other parties defined roles in particular decision-making bodies. Supporters see this as a way to recognise rangatiratanga and Treaty relationships; opponents argue that public authority should remain with elected institutions and that different representation arrangements can undermine equal citizenship.

Labour has previously established co-governance frameworks. The Greens and Te Pāti Māori propose broader roles for iwi and hapū, while ACT and New Zealand First oppose many forms of Treaty-based co-governance. [Where political parties stand on Te Tiriti o Waitangi](https://thespinoff.co.nz/atea/25-08-2026/where-political-parties-stand-on-te-tiriti-o-waitangi)[Opinion: Where do political parties stand on te tiriti?](https://www.teaonews.co.nz/2026/09/15/opinion-where-do-political-parties-stand-on-te-tiriti/)

Ask: Who should have decision-making power over water, whenua, local infrastructure and other resources—not just the opportunity to be consulted?

![Poutiri Wellness Centre | Poutiri is a holistic Wellness Centre to make health, employment and wellness services more affordable and accessible for whānau.](https://images.openai.com/static-rsc-4/oQ4E1rDzcNfbOv3CVm6z90v3Pool4cdOCedRuDbIZkWv2Gf9x9I_uuuzfVrkcVky168gg5esjC3azqf718UeGI8ggVQAHO7zikrBHuNyGOXW1o3vBET5fwCDFhrzWadtmdKCOIDoBNKqUst6vtM4lw-d3mWbb983AoNtZg1d920?purpose=inline)

Health, education and whānau services

National's government disestablished the Māori Health Authority, Te Aka Whai Ora. Labour's record includes establishing it, and Labour has campaigned to restore explicit Treaty commitments in areas such as education. The Greens and Te Pāti Māori support stronger Māori-led approaches to services. [Where political parties stand on Te Tiriti o Waitangi](https://thespinoff.co.nz/atea/25-08-2026/where-political-parties-stand-on-te-tiriti-o-waitangi)[Policy](https://www.maoriparty.org.nz/policy)[Manifesto 2026](https://www.greens.org.nz/manifesto_2026)

Ask: Should whānau have access to mainstream services alone, or also to adequately funded Māori-led services with greater control over how care is delivered?

![Māori veterans to tell tribunal how badly they were treated in the military – Te Ao Māori News](https://images.openai.com/static-rsc-4/mBnh0RQ05cdoN1dlCRJ60wYW3_baqCSxAjFnA4gBHLUkThx8G83KmC8kLKaTHiMngEuXi1mjXjbfH7qXswFh-r9crzf35p17uCgeVmutxTEcElLHbjC71Beyn1f9UJ5CR0r43RYGqR0mHggEfUV0PSSgALSTLDOmioAcg1i6aXk?purpose=inline)

Legal accountability and Treaty obligations

ACT's 2026 policy proposes removing or narrowing broad, undefined Treaty clauses as laws are amended. Te Pāti Māori proposes stronger formal accountability, including binding Tribunal recommendations. The Greens also advocate strengthening the Waitangi Tribunal. Labour opposes the current government's direction of Treaty-related changes, while National has supported some changes through its coalition arrangements. [ACT releases election Treaty policy](https://www.1news.co.nz/2026/08/23/act-releases-election-treaty-policy-whats-in-it-and-whats-gone/)[Where political parties stand on Te Tiriti o Waitangi](https://thespinoff.co.nz/atea/25-08-2026/where-political-parties-stand-on-te-tiriti-o-waitangi)[Policy](https://www.maoriparty.org.nz/policy)

Ask: Should Treaty obligations be enforceable constraints on government decisions, or should Parliament have greater discretion to define them?

## 3. How Te Tiriti policy connects to the cost of raising a whānau

For a working household, constitutional policy is only one part of the picture. The practical question is how a party's approach to Māori participation connects to everyday services, household bills and economic security.

| Household concern | What to compare between parties |
| --- | --- |
| Housing and rent | Housing supply, affordable rentals, first-home support, Māori housing and papakāinga development. |
| Power and groceries | Electricity affordability, competition, income support and policies that change household purchasing power. |
| Healthcare | Access to GPs, medicines and timely care; Māori-led services; and funding for providers serving whānau. |
| Education and tamariki | School funding, school lunches, learning support, te reo Māori and the role of Te Tiriti in education. |
| Work and income | Take-home pay, tax, employment protections, childcare costs and eligibility for family support. |
| Whenua and local services | Iwi and hapū involvement in resource management, infrastructure planning and decisions affecting Māori land. |

National's published 2026 platform, for example, includes tax, KiwiSaver, grocery competition and affordable power policies. The Greens' 2026 manifesto links its economic and social programme to its vision for a country that honours Te Tiriti. Te Pāti Māori's published platform includes housing, Māori-led health and education, and constitutional transformation. [2026 Election Policy](https://www.national.org.nz/policies)[Manifesto 2026](https://www.greens.org.nz/manifesto_2026)[Policy](https://www.maoriparty.org.nz/policy)

One important distinction: a party's position on Te Tiriti does not, by itself, tell you whether your household will be financially better off. Check the actual costs, eligibility rules, funding commitments and implementation dates of its policies. Also consider whether Māori-specific services would be available to your whānau and how those services would be funded.

## 4. Questions to use when comparing party policies

These questions can help you assess the parties on your own terms without relying on labels such as “pro-Māori” or “one law for all”.

- Te Tiriti: Does the party recognise ongoing obligations under Te Tiriti, and how would those obligations constrain government decisions?
- Participation: Would iwi and hapū have decision-making authority, formal partnership roles, consultation rights or mainly advisory roles?
- Accountability: What happens if the Crown fails to meet its obligations? Can a tribunal, court or independent body require a remedy?
- Tamariki and whānau: What practical changes would the party make to health, education, housing and social services, and what would they cost?
- Household finances: What would change for a working household's take-home pay, rent or mortgage, childcare, power bills and food budget?
- Delivery: Is the proposal funded, costed and ready to implement, or is it a longer-term constitutional commitment?
- Coalitions: Would the party retain these commitments when negotiating with other parties to form a government?

The coalition question is particularly relevant in New Zealand's MMP system. A party's stated policy is not always the same as the policy a government ultimately implements.

## 5. Where to verify the 2026 policies

These sources let you read the actual proposals and compare details.

![](https://www.google.com/s2/favicons?domain=https://policy.nz&sz=32)

Policy.nz — 2026 party policy comparison

Compare parties across Te Tiriti, governance, te reo Māori, land and resources, and wellbeing.

[Compare Te ao Māori policies](https://policy.nz/2026/party-vote/policies/te-ao-maori?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

![](https://www.google.com/s2/favicons?domain=https://www.maoriparty.org.nz&sz=32)

Te Pāti Māori — official policy

Read its proposals on Te Tiriti entrenchment, Māori-led services and tino rangatiratanga.

[Read Te Pāti Māori policies](https://www.maoriparty.org.nz/policy?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

![](https://www.google.com/s2/favicons?domain=https://www.greens.org.nz&sz=32)

Green Party — 2026 manifesto

Review its constitutional, Māori and wider economic commitments.

[Read the Green Party manifesto](https://www.greens.org.nz/manifesto_2026?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

![](https://www.google.com/s2/favicons?domain=https://elections.nz&sz=32)

Electoral Commission — official candidate and party information

Check registered parties, party lists and electorate candidates.

[Visit Vote NZ](https://vote.nz/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

For broader reporting on the differences between parties, see [The Spinoff's August 2026 Te Tiriti comparison](https://thespinoff.co.nz/atea/25-08-2026/where-political-parties-stand-on-te-tiriti-o-waitangi?utm_source=chatgpt.com) and [Te Ao Māori News' September 2026 analysis](https://www.teaonews.co.nz/2026/09/15/opinion-where-do-political-parties-stand-on-te-tiriti/?utm_source=chatgpt.com). [Where political parties stand on Te Tiriti o Waitangi](https://thespinoff.co.nz/atea/25-08-2026/where-political-parties-stand-on-te-tiriti-o-waitangi)[Opinion: Where do political parties stand on te tiriti?](https://www.teaonews.co.nz/2026/09/15/opinion-where-do-political-parties-stand-on-te-tiriti/)

A final thought: You do not have to treat household affordability and Te Tiriti as competing priorities. You can assess both the immediate material effects of a party's policies and its longer-term approach to Māori authority, representation and accountability.

Your two votes also serve different purposes: the party vote largely determines each party's share of seats in Parliament, while the electorate vote chooses your local representative. [Candidate and party lists released](https://elections.nz/media-and-news/2026/candidate-and-party-lists-released)[Policies for Party vote - NZ Election 2026](https://policy.nz/2026/party-vote/policies/te-ao-maori)

## Gemini

Answer ID: 3fdb343c-8ff5-4b92-8d6e-a450edf54d9d

As a Māori parent balancing household costs while caring deeply about Te Tiriti o Waitangi and local representation, navigating the 2026 general election involves looking closely at how political parties view public decision-making, governance, and equity. 

The major political parties offer distinct ideological directions on Te Tiriti obligations, Māori participation, and the scope of public services.

---

### Spectrum of Party Positions on Te Tiriti and Public Decisions

#### 1. The Right / Centre-Right Coalition (National, ACT, New Zealand First)
These parties generally advocate for **parliamentary sovereignty and equal citizenship**, arguing that public policy should treat all New Zealanders equally regardless of ethnicity. They emphasize democratic accountability through a single standard of law.
* **National:** Accepts Te Tiriti as a founding document and supports historical settlements, but focuses on public service delivery according to individual need rather than separate governance. They oppose co-governance models over public assets and aim to remove specific race-based statutory requirements from public agencies (such as sections of the Public Service Act).
* **ACT:** Proposes a firm legislative reset regarding Te Tiriti. Their platform includes advancing bills to strictly define or reduce Treaty principles in law, restricting the use of tikanga in senior courts to maintain legal certainty, restricting the scope and eventually winding up the Waitangi Tribunal, and holding a referendum on Māori seats.
* **New Zealand First:** Emphasizes that public services should be delivered strictly according to social or economic need, not ethnicity. Their policies target the abolition of the Waitangi Tribunal once historical claims are complete, disestablishing entities like Auckland’s Independent Māori Statutory Board, and implementing a binding referendum on Māori seats.

#### 2. The Centre-Left Opposition (Labour)
Labour’s approach balances parliamentary democracy with structured partnership under Te Tiriti, focusing on collaborative service delivery.
* **Labour:** Supports retaining and strengthening the Waitangi Tribunal rather than restricting it. They advocate for maintaining co-governance arrangements where appropriate, restoring iwi participation agreements in resource management, and expanding Māori-led service delivery and trades training. They generally look to maintain Treaty-based policy settings within public agencies without pursuing sweeping constitutional transformation.

#### 3. The Left and Indigenous Parties (Green Party, Te Pāti Māori)
These parties champion **constitutional transformation, tino rangatiratanga (Māori self-determination)**, and structural equity in public decisions.
* **Green Party:** Advocates for a Treaty-based constitution that recognizes Māori sovereignty and tikanga as foundational law. Their policies include giving the Waitangi Tribunal binding powers over the Crown, entrenching Māori seats, implementing the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), and strengthening community-led and marae-based resources.
* **Te Pāti Māori:** Campaigns on comprehensive constitutional transformation based on Te Tiriti and *Matike Mai*. They propose establishing independent, Māori-led authorities across public sectors (such as health, education, justice, and freshwater management), transforming the Waitangi Tribunal into a binding judicial authority, and embedding full Māori decision-making authority into public structures.

---

### Connecting Tiriti Policy to Household Costs and Local Services

How these philosophies translate into everyday life for a working whānau depends on which party forms government:

* **Service Delivery & Cost of Living:** Parties emphasizing *tino rangatiratanga* and centre-left policies (Te Pāti Māori, Greens, Labour) tend to favor targeted, community-led, or iwi-partnered delivery models (e.g., in health, housing, and training) aimed at closing equity gaps for Māori whānau. Conversely, centre-right parties (National, ACT, NZ First) favor universal, needs-based funding models delivered through standard mainstream agencies, arguing this avoids duplication and ensures universal fairness.
* **Local Voice:** If having a direct structural voice in local and public decisions matters to your vote, the parties differ starkly on whether local authorities and statutory boards should feature mandated Māori representation or co-governance arrangements.

Are there particular aspects—such as health, education, or local council representation—that weigh most heavily on your decision for your whānau?

## Google AI Mode

Answer ID: de5f5036-046c-44c6-92ab-374f55f38b18

As a Māori parent balancing household costs and family wellbeing, how political parties view Te Tiriti o Waitangi and Māori participation directly impacts both your daily life and your tamariki's future.

The political landscape for the 2026 general election reveals a sharp ideological divide on these issues. Parties generally fall into three distinct approaches:

* * *

1\. Parties Favouring Constitutional Transformation & Strengthening Te Tiriti

 * * **Te Pāti Māori:**
 * _Te Tiriti Position:_ Advocates for a fundamental constitutional transformation centered on Te Tiriti o Waitangi, positioning hapū and iwi as sovereign partners rather than stakeholders.
 * _Public Participation:_ Supports binding Waitangi Tribunal recommendations, mandatory Tiriti impact statements on all legislation, and self-determination (_tino rangatiratanga_) across public services, health, and education. [The Spinoff]

 * **Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand:**
 * _Te Tiriti Position:_ Recognises the Māori text of Te Tiriti as authoritative and binding. Supports constitutional partnership, returning lands, and strengthening environmental guardianship (_kaitiakitanga_) alongside iwi.
 * _Public Participation:_ Advocates for legally binding Waitangi Tribunal powers, expanded co-governance frameworks in resource management, and resourcing Māori self-determination at a local and national level.

 *

2\. Parties Favouring Partnership within Existing Frameworks

 * * **New Zealand Labour Party:**
 * _Te Tiriti Position:_ Views Te Tiriti as the founding document of Aotearoa and supports the principles of partnership, protection, and participation.
 * _Public Participation:_ Historically supports distinct consultation processes, targeted equity funding to close systemic gaps in health and education, and co-governance models for public assets. They campaign against what they view as attempts to diminish or rewrite treaty obligations, though they generally stop short of full constitutional transformation.

 * **The Opportunity Party (TOP):**
 * _Te Tiriti Position:_ Supports honoring Te Tiriti and strengthening equitable historical settlements.
 * _Public Participation:_ Advocates for evidence-based public policy that honors partnership while addressing socio-economic disparities through universal and targeted economic support. [The Spinoff]

 *

3\. Parties Favouring Equal Civic Rights & Limiting Treaty Interpretations

 * * **New Zealand National Party:**
 * _Te Tiriti Position:_ Recognises Te Tiriti as the founding document while asserting Crown sovereignty and equal citizenship for all New Zealanders.
 * _Public Participation:_ Has moved away from broad co-governance models in public service delivery, favoring standard public administration where services target need rather than ethnicity, while still managing ongoing Treaty settlement processes. [The Spinoff]

 * **ACT New Zealand:**
 * _Te Tiriti Position:_ Rejects the concept of an ongoing legal or constitutional partnership between the Crown and Māori. Promotes the principle of "one law for all" based on individual, equal legal rights rather than collective Treaty rights.
 * _Public Participation & Services:_ Campaigns to tightly define or disestablish contemporary treaty principles, restrict the use of _tikanga_ in courts, and has pushed to wind down or significantly alter the scope of the Waitangi Tribunal once historical claims are settled.

 * **New Zealand First:**
 * _Te Tiriti Position:_ Opposes expanded treaty principles, race-based policies, and co-governance arrangements in public infrastructure.
 * _Public Participation & Services:_ Proposes holding referenda on the retention of the Māori seats in Parliament and replacing the Waitangi Tribunal with a "Treaty of Waitangi Completion Commission" to finalise all remaining claims.

 *

* * *

What This Means for a Working Māori Household

 * * **Local Services & Cost of Living:** Parties on the left (Labour, Greens, Te Pāti Māori) tend to tie service delivery and economic relief (such as healthcare funding, housing, and working-family tax supports) to addressing specific ethnic and systemic inequities through partnered delivery. Parties on the right (National, ACT, NZ First) advocate for universal, needs-based or merit-based assistance that does not factor in race or Treaty status.

 * **Where to Compare Further:** You can dive deeper into specific party manifestos and cross-examine local electorate candidates via Policy.nz or read comprehensive breakdowns on platforms like The Spinoff.

## AI Overviews

Answer ID: a8186e9c-9ac7-49af-803f-064a9f478f91

In the **2026 New Zealand general election** , political parties are sharply divided on **Te Tiriti o Waitangi (the Treaty of Waitangi)** obligations and **Māori participation** in public decision-making. The parties broadly split into two camps: the Center-Right coalition, which champions "equal citizenship" and rolling back race-based governance, and the Left/Māori bloc, which advocates for expanding co-governance, making Te Tiriti legally binding, and increasing Māori self-determination (_tino rangatiratanga_).

* * *

🏛️ The Center-Right Government (National, ACT, NZ First)

The current governing coalition approaches Te Tiriti from a perspective of universalism, aiming to streamline public services based strictly on **need rather than race** , and to limit the application of Treaty principles in daily governance.

 * **National Party:** Focuses on an "equal citizenship" model. In government, they dismantled the Māori Health Authority (_Te Aka Whai Ora_) and removed co-governance frameworks from water infrastructure (_Three Waters_). National prioritizes measurable outcomes over structural Treaty provisions, asserting that economic growth and lower living costs benefit working Māori families directly. They also enacted policies favoring English names for government departments.
 * **ACT New Zealand:** Takes the most restrictive stance, strongly opposing co-governance. ACT campaigns on individual freedom and equal treatment under the law, arguing that interpreting Te Tiriti through a partnership framework creates a divided legal system.
 * **New Zealand First:** Explicitly opposes race-based public policy and co-governance. NZ First frames Te Tiriti as a historical founding document that should not give rise to distinct legal pathways or separate public services for Māori today. They advocate for local councils to have local decision-making power without mandated Māori wards unless backed by a local referendum.

* * *

🌿 The Left & Māori Bloc (Te Pāti Māori, Greens, Labour)

The opposition parties advocate for protecting and expanding Māori representation, treating Te Tiriti as New Zealand’s foundational legal blueprint.

 * **Te Pāti Māori (TPM):** Has made sweeping constitutional reform a strict post-election "bottom line". Under their **Te Tiriti Entrenchment Policy** , they intend to establish an independent **Te Tiriti Commission** with the authority to issue compliance orders stopping Cabinet decisions that breach the Treaty. They also want to make Waitangi Tribunal recommendations legally binding on the Crown and fund a pathway toward total Māori self-determination (_mana motuhake_).
 * **Green Party:** Highly supportive of co-governance and _tino rangatiratanga_. The Greens treat Te Tiriti as a central pillar of all public policy. For 2026, their policies focus on directly resourcing marae as community hubs and protecting Māori local representation, while opposing funding cuts to Māori broadcasting and public health initiatives.
 * **Labour Party:** Takes a moderate pro-Treaty stance. While they built the initial co-governance frameworks (like _Three Waters_) when last in government, their 2026 campaign places less emphasis on structural constitutional changes. Instead, Labour focuses on restoring explicit Te Tiriti obligations in specific sectors, such as education, and partnering with Māori on local service delivery. However, Labour has **ruled out** Te Pāti Māori’s proposed Te Tiriti Commission.

* * *

📊 Quick Comparison: Māori Participation & Te Tiriti

Party| Stance on Te Tiriti / Treaty Principles| View on Co-Governance & Māori Wards| Key Focus for Working Households
---|---|---|---
**Te Pāti Māori**| **Entrench & Bind**: Make Treaty legally binding; make Tribunal findings mandatory.| **Full Self-Determination** : Shift public services to Māori-led authorities.| Wealth redistribution and funding Māori-led local services.
**Greens**| **Uphold Partnership** : Central to all public policy and lawmaking.| **Strong Support** : Expand co-governance and resource local marae.| Renters' rights, public transport, and welfare reform.
**Labour**| **Restore Obligations** : Partner in key areas like education; reject Treaty Commission.| **Case-by-Case** : Partner with iwi on services but dials back sweeping structural overhauls.| Lowering local living costs (e.g., free GP visits, transport caps).
**National**| **Strict Parameters** : Focus on equal citizenship; limit Treaty interpretations in law.| **Oppose** : Disestablish separate race-based health and infrastructure bodies.| Direct financial relief via lower income taxes and economic growth.
**ACT**| **Individual Rights** : Universal application of law, minimizing Treaty-specific rights.| **Strongly Oppose** : Eradicate co-governance from all state structures.| Cutting red tape, smaller government, and tax relief.
**NZ First**| **Historical Only** : Treat Treaty as a historical document; oppose race-based public policy.| **Strongly Oppose** : Eliminate race-based structures; public services based on need.| Regional infrastructure funding and strict immigration controls.

* * *

If you would like to explore this further, let me know:

 * Which specific **household costs** (e.g., childcare, public transport, healthcare) you want to compare across party policies?
 * If you want details on how the different party policies will impact **local services** and council decision-making in your area?